Mud Pan for Use in Drywall Finishing

ABSTRACT

A mud pan includes a container having a bottom wall, a mounting structure, a handle and a supporting structure. The mounting structure is connected to the bottom wall of the container and extends downward from the bottom wall of the container. The handle is connectable to the mounting structure to define a connected position and a disconnected position. The supporting structure is connected to the container. The supporting structure is operable to levelly support the container with respect to a surface when the handle is in the disconnected position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of handheld containers for holdingdrywall joint compound during drywall finishing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drywall finishers typically use mud pans to hold and dispense drywalljoint compound while applying the drywall joint compound to anunfinished section of drywall. The most common type of mud pan comprisesa trough fabricated from metal or plastic, where the trough is eithertrapezoidal or substantially U-shaped in cross-section. Typically, thesedrywall mud pans are not provided with handles, but rather, the drywallfinisher holds the bottom of the mud pan in one hand while applying thejoint compound to the wall using a taping knife that is held in thedrywall finisher's other hand.

Provision of a handle on a mud pan is problematic. Handles that extendhorizontally outward from the pan cause undue fatigue for the user.Handles that extend downward prevent the mud pan from being set downupon a surface in a level manner.

One mud pan design incorporating a handle includes an elongated handlethat is connected to and extends perpendicular to a magnetic panel thatis connectable to the mud pan. However, since the magnetic panel that issimilar in size to the bottom of the mud pan, this design does not lenditself to convenient storage of the handle when the handle was not inuse.

It would be desirable to have a drywall mud pan having a detachablehandle that may be easily stored when not in use, wherein the structureof the mud pan does not prevent the mud pan from sitting level on a flatsurface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mud pan includes a container having a bottom wall, a mountingstructure, a handle and a supporting structure. The mounting structureis connected to the bottom wall of the container and extends downwardfrom the bottom wall of the container. The handle is connectable to themounting structure to define a connected position and a disconnectedposition. The supporting structure is connected to the container. Thesupporting structure is operable to levelly support the container withrespect to a surface when the handle is in the disconnected position.

The supporting structure may be operable to space the bottom wall of thecontainer from the surface. Furthermore, the mounting structure mayextend a first distance downward from the bottom wall of the containerand the support structure may extend a second distance downward from thebottom wall of the container, wherein the second distance is equal to orgreater than the first distance.

The supporting structure may include a plurality of feet. Alternatively,the supporting structure may include a rim that extends downward fromthe bottom wall of the container at an outer periphery of the bottomwall of the container.

The handle may extend substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall ofthe container when the handle is in the connected position. Furthermore,the bottom wall of the container may be substantially planar.Additionally, the container may have a substantially trough-likeconfiguration.

The mounting structure may have a threaded rod, and the handle may havea threaded collar that is threadedly engageable with the threaded rod ofthe mounting structure to define the connected position. Alternatively,the mounting structure may have a threaded collar, and the handle mayhave a threaded rod that is threadedly engageable with the threadedcollar of the mounting structure to define the connected position.

One or more hooks may be connected to the container for suspending thecontainer from an elevated structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawingswherein like referenced numerals refer to like parts throughout severalviews and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the mud pan according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view showing the mud pan according to theinvention; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-section view showing the mud pan according to theinvention having an alternative supporting structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be describedin detail with reference to the disclosed embodiment.

FIGS. 1-2 show a mud pan 10 according to the invention. The mud pan 10includes a container 12 and a handle 14 that is removably connected tothe container 12. Accordingly, the container 12 may be handheld whilethe handle 14 is connected to the container 12, or the handle 14 may bedisconnected from the container 12 to allow the container 12 to be setdown upon a surface 1. The mud pan 10 is particularly useful for holdingjoint compound (not shown) during drywall finishing. However, it shouldbe understood that the mud pan 10 is not limited to use with jointcompound or limited to the application of drywall finishing, but rather,the mud pan 10 could be used to hold and mix various flowable materialsfor any desired application.

The container 12 may be elongated in shape, having a substantiallytrough-like configuration. In particular, the container 12 may includesa substantially planar, rectangular bottom wall 16 having a first sidewall 18 and a second side wall 20 extending upward therefrom along thelong sides 17 a of the bottom wall 16. The first side wall 18 and thesecond side wall 20 each extend slightly outward from the bottom wall16, thereby creating a trapezoidal shape for a first end wall 22 and asecond end wall 24, each of which are connected to the bottom wall 16,the first side wall 18, and the second side wall 20 at the short sides17 b of the bottom wall 16. Together, the bottom wall 16, the first andsecond side walls 18, 20, and the first and second end walls 22, 24define an interior 26 of the container 12, along with an open top 28 ofthe container 12. The open top 28 of the container 12 is bounded byupper edges 30 of the first and second side walls 18, 20 and the firstand second end walls 22, 24. The upper edges 30 are stiff andsubstantially straight so that the user may scrape excess joint compoundfrom his tool.

In order to connect the container 12 to the handle 14, a mountingstructure 32 is provided on the bottom wall 16 of the container 12, onthe exterior thereof. The mounting structure 32 may be any structuresuitable to engage a portion of the handle 14, as will be explainedherein. For example, the mounting structure 32 could include a baseplate 34 and a threaded post 36. The base plate 34 is connected to thebottom wall 16 of the container 12 by any suitable means such as weldingor riveting. The threaded post 36 is connected to the base 34 andextends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall 16 of thecontainer 12. Other structures could be provided in lieu of the threadedpost 36, such as a threaded collar. It should be further understood thata threaded connection is not necessary, but rather, the handle 14 couldbe connected to the container 12 by friction fit, a slip joint,resilient retainer means, or other structures that are well known in theart.

The mounting structure 32 is centrally located on the bottom wall 16 ofthe container 12 and extends downward therefrom by a first distance 38.In order to prevent the mounting structure 32 from rendering thecontainer 12 incapable of sitting level with respect to the surface 1, asupporting structure 41 is provided on the bottom wall 16 of thecontainer 12. The supporting structure 41 spaces the bottom wall 16 ofthe container 12 to support the container 12 with respect to the surface1 when the handle 14 is not connected to the container 12. For example,the supporting structure 41 could include a plurality of feet 42,wherein the feet 42 have bottom walls 44 that engage the surface 1. Thebottom walls 44 of the feet 42 are spaced from the bottom wall 16 of thecontainer 12 by a second distance 40 that is greater than the firstdistance 38. Thus, the feet 42 support the container 12 with respect tothe surface 1 such that the mounting structure 32 is not in contact withthe surface 1. However, it should be understood that the mountingstructure 32 could contact the surface 1, as long as it did not preventthe feet 42 from holding the container 12 in a substantially levelfashion with respect to the surface 1. For example, the supportingstructure 41 could be provided in the form of a rim 142 that extendsdownward from the bottom wall 16 of the of the container 12 in asubstantially continuous manner around the outer periphery of the bottomwall 16 of the container 12 and has a bottom surface 144 that is spacedfrom the bottom wall 16 of the container 12 by the second distance 40,as shown in FIG. 3.

In order to allow the container 12 to be hung from an elevatedstructure, such as a ladder (not shown), at least one hook, andpreferably, a pair of hooks 48 may be provided. The hooks 48 eachinclude a first leg 49 a connected to either of the first side wall 18or the second side wall 20 of the container 12. A second leg 49 bextends outward from the first leg 49 a in a substantially horizontalfashion for engagement with the ladder. A third leg 49 c extendsdownward from the second leg 49 b to retain the hooks 48 in engagementwith the ladder.

The handle 14 is substantially cylindrical and provides a convenientstructure by which the user can grip the mud pan 10. A connectingstructure 52 may be provided at an upper end 50 of the handle 14. Theconnecting structure 52 is adapted to engage the mounting structure 32of the container 12 to removably secure the handle 14 with respect tothe container 12. For example, the connecting structure 52 may include athreaded collar 54 for threaded engagement with the threaded post 36 ofthe mounting structure 32. Alternatively, the connecting structure 52could include a threaded post (not shown) or other suitable structures,as are well known in the art. In order to provide further comfort forthe user, a cushion 56 fabricated from foam or similar material may beprovided at the upper end 50 of the handle 14 around the outer peripherythereof to prevent contact of the user's hand with the bottom wall 16 ofthe container 12.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but to the contrary, it is intended to covervarious modifications or equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope is to be accorded thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andequivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

1. A mud pan for providing a flowable material to a tool, comprising: acontainer having a bottom wall and at least one substantially planarside wall having an upper edge, wherein the container is adapted toreceive the flowable material and the upper edge of the side wall isstiff and substantially straight to allow excess flowable material to bescraped from the tool; a mounting structure connected to the bottom wallof the container, wherein the mounting structure extends downward fromthe bottom wall of the container; a handle connectable to the mountingstructure at an upper end of the handle to define a connected positionand a disconnected position, the handle having a cushion that extendsradially outward from an outer periphery of the handle adjacent to theupper end of the handle and is configured to prevent contact of a user'shand with the bottom wall of the container; and a supporting structureconnected to the container, wherein the supporting structure is operableto levelly support the container with respect to a surface and isoperable to space the bottom wall of the container from the surface whenthe handle is in the disconnected position.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The mud panof claim 1, wherein the mounting structure extends a first distancedownward from the bottom wall of the container and the support structureextends a second distance downward from the bottom wall of thecontainer, and the second distance is equal to or greater than the firstdistance.
 4. The mud pan of claim 3, wherein the bottom wall of thecontainer is substantially planar.
 5. The mud pan of claim 1, furthercomprising: the supporting structure including four feet, wherein thebottom wall of the container is substantially rectangular, the bottomwall of the container defines four corners, and each of the four feet ispositioned adjacent to a respective corner of the four corners of thebottom wall of the container.
 6. The mud pan of claim 1, wherein thebottom wall of the container is substantially rectangular, the bottomwall of the container defines a substantially rectangular outerperiphery, and the supporting structure includes a substantiallyrectangular rim that extends downward from the outer periphery of thebottom wall of the container.
 7. The mud pan of claim 1, wherein thehandle extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall of thecontainer when the handle is in the connected position.
 8. (canceled) 9.The mud pan of claim 1, further comprising: the mounting structurehaving a threaded post; and the handle having a threaded collar that isthreadedly engageable with the threaded post of the mounting structureto define the connected position.
 10. The mud pan of claim 1, furthercomprising: the mounting structure having a threaded collar; and thehandle having a threaded post that is threadedly engageable with thethreaded collar of the mounting structure to define the connectedposition.
 11. The mud pan of claim 1, further comprising: a pair ofhooks that are connected to the side wall of the container at spacedlocations along the side wall of the container for suspending thecontainer from an elevated structure, each hook having a first leg thatis connected to and coplanar to the side wall, a second leg that extendsoutward from the first leg and the side wall, and a third leg thatextends downward from the second leg to a free end.
 12. A mud pan forproviding a flowable material to a tool, comprising: a container havinga substantially planar, generally rectangular bottom wall, first andsecond elongate, substantially planar opposed side walls that extendupwardly and outwardly from the bottom wall and each have an upper edge,and first and second substantially planar opposed end walls that eachextend upward from and perpendicular to the bottom wall and are narrowrelative to the side walls, wherein the container is adapted to receivethe flowable material and the upper edges of the side walls are stiffand substantially straight to allow excess flowable material to bescraped from the tool; a mounting structure connected to the bottom wallof the container, wherein the mounting structure extends a firstdistance downward from the bottom wall of the container; a handleconnectable to the mounting structure to define a connected position anda disconnected position; a supporting structure that is connected to thecontainer and extends a second distance downward from the bottom wall ofthe container, wherein the second distance is equal to or greater thanthe first distance, and further wherein the supporting structure isoperable to space the bottom wall of the container with respect to asurface when the handle is in the disconnected position; and first andsecond hooks that are connected to the side wall of the container atspaced locations along the side wall of the container for suspending thecontainer from an elevated structure, each hook having a first leg thatis connected to and coplanar to the side wall, a second leg that extendsoutward from the first leg and the side wall, and a third leg thatextends downward from the second leg to a free end.
 13. The mud pan ofclaim 12, further comprising: the supporting structure including fourfeet, wherein the bottom wall of the container is substantiallyrectangular, the bottom wall of the container defines four corners, andeach of the four feet is positioned adjacent to a respective corner ofthe four corners of the bottom wall of the container.
 14. The mud pan ofclaim 12, wherein the bottom wall of the container is substantiallyrectangular, the bottom wall of the container defines a substantiallyrectangular outer periphery, and the supporting structure includes asubstantially rectangular rim that extends downward from the outerperiphery of the bottom wall of the container.
 15. The mud pan of claim12, wherein the handle extends substantially perpendicular to the bottomwall of the container when the handle is in the connected position. 16.(canceled)
 17. The mud pan of claim 12, further comprising: the mountingstructure having a threaded post; and the handle having a threadedcollar that is threadedly engageable with the threaded post of themounting structure to define the connected position.
 18. The mud pan ofclaim 12, further comprising: the mounting structure having a threadedcollar; and the handle having a threaded post that is threadedlyengageable with the threaded collar of the mounting structure to definethe connected position.
 19. (canceled)
 20. A mud pan for use in drywallfinishing, the mud pan adapted to provide a flowable material to a tool,the mud pan comprising: a container having a substantially planar,generally rectangular bottom wall, first and second elongate,substantially planar opposed side walls that extend upwardly andoutwardly from the bottom wall and each have an upper edge, and firstand second substantially planar opposed end walls that each extendupward from and perpendicular to the bottom wall and are narrow relativeto the side walls, wherein the container is adapted to receive theflowable material and the upper edges of the side walls are stiff andsubstantially straight to allow excess flowable material to be scrapedfrom the tool; a mounting structure connected to the bottom wall of thecontainer, wherein the mounting structure extends a first distancedownward from the bottom wall of the container; a handle connectable tothe mounting structure at an upper end of the handle to define aconnected position and a disconnected position, the handle having acushion that extends radially outward from an outer periphery of thehandle adjacent to an upper end of the handle and is configured toprevent contact of a user's hand with the bottom wall of the container,wherein the handle extends substantially perpendicular to the bottomwall of the container in the connected position; a supporting structurethat is connected to the container and extends a second distancedownward from the bottom wall of the container, wherein the seconddistance is equal to or greater than the first distance, and furtherwherein the supporting structure is operable to space the bottom wall ofthe container with respect to a surface when the handle is in thedisconnected position; and first and second hooks that are connected tothe side wall of the container at spaced locations along the first sidewall of the container for suspending the container from an elevatedstructure, each hook having a first leg that is connected to andcoplanar to the side wall, a second leg that extends outward from thefirst leg and the side wall, and a third leg that extends downward fromthe second leg to a free end, wherein the first hook is located adjacentto the first end wall of the container and the second hook is locatedadjacent to the second end wall of the container.